Variable-spacing mechanism for type-writers.



No. 828,201. PATENTBD AUG. *7, 190a.

. N. G. ELLIS. VARIABLE SPAUING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.5. 1905.

UNITED sTa as TATENT erron- NORMAN G. ELLIS, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VARIABLE-SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPE- WRITERS.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NORMAN G. ELLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Spacing Mechanism for Type-W'riters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to type-writing machines, and particularly to means whereby variable spacing may be obtained to a greater extent than is now possible in the present state of the art.

In carrying out my invention I employ a platen having a plurality of circumferential rows of teeth or ratchet-wheels which in respect to each other will produce a differential effect as regards spacing, the said platen being supported to have longitudinal movement to bring either of the said ratchet-wheels into line with the devices for turning and controlling the platen, means being provided for holding the platen in any position to which it may be adjusted longitudinally, while allowing it freedom of turning movement under the action of its operating devices.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of arts hereinafter described, and particular. y pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of a type-writer carriage as is necessary for a clear understanding of my invention, said carriage having in place therein my improved form of platen and devices associated therewith. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the clip or detent for holding the platen in any one of its longitudinal positions. Fig. 3 is a detail end View of a typewriter oarriage of the well-known Re nington form having my improvement attached thereto, the differential spacing-ratchets in this form of my invention being of the same diameter.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the platen, and 2 indicates a conventional form of typewriter carriage. The shaft of the platen is suitably supported in the carriage-frame, so that it, together with the platen, may have an adjustment in the direction of its axis, or, in

other words, longitudinally of the said frame.

At one end the laten is provided witha series of rows of teet or ratchet-wheels having in respect to each other teeth of different distances apart, or the teeth may all be of substantially the same size but on wheels of different diameters, or, again, the teeth may be Patented Aug. '7, 1906.

of different size and on wheels of different diameters, the purpose being to secure different degrees of angular movement of the platen according to which row of teeth is in-l'ine with the operating-pawl. In any case,whether the teeth be of different sizes on wheels of the same or different diameters or of the same size but on wheels ofdifferent diameters, the teeth in respect to the several wheels may be said to be differently disposed. These ratchet-wheels are indicated generally at .3, and individually they are designed to cooperate with an operating-pawl 4 of substantially the ordinary form pivotally connected with the hand-lever 7. The ratchet-wheels may also have associated therewith the ordinary form of detent, together with means well known in the art whereby the said detent may be lifted from the ratchet teeth in order to entirely free the, platen from restraint.

The pawl 4 may be of that character which is normally disengaged from the ratchet-teeth.

In order to hold the platen in any position to which it may be adjusted longitudinally for bringing any one of the ratchet-wheels into line with the pawl, I employ a clip or detent 6, which I preferably pivot to the carriage-frame and allow it to engage the appropriate one of a series of grooves 5 in the platenshaft, of which grooves there is one for each of the ratchet-wheels. When a different circumferential spacing movement of the laten is desired from that for which the mac ine is set, it is simply necessary to lift the detent 6 from engagement with the groove in the shaft and then to shift the platen longitudinally until the appropriate ratchet-wheel is in line with the operating-pawl, and then the detent is dropped into the groove which is in line therewith. In this manner the platen will be held against longitudinal displacement while permitted rotary movement under the action of the operatingawl.

In order to hold tie clip or detent 6 in place, a lock or holding-piece 8 may be employed ivoted to the carriage-frameat 9.

It wil be understood that the operating and controlling mechanism for the platen may be in all substantial respects similar to that now employed and that these arts will need no adjustment out of the vertical plane in which they operate in order to carry out the purposes of the invention.

Further, it willlee understood thatmy invention can be used either with or without the devices now employed for securing variable line-spacing, and when used in connection with said devices the em loyment of the plurality of ratchets Will mu tiplyaccording to the number used the number of-different- 5 line-spacings which it is possible to secure with the ordinary means.

Where I employ herein the term Qratchetwheels, I do not necessarily mean a set of independent Wheels, as the teeth may be formed on one body, ifdesired.

I claim-as my invention- 1. In combination in .a type-Writer,- a platen-frame, a platen, a plurality of ratchet- Wheels fixed thereto and having in respect to r each other differently-disposed teeth for producing difi'erent degrees of rotary spacing movements, operating means to engage said ratchets, and means for settin the platen in difierent positions longitudina ly to aline the ratchets severally With the operating means,

substantially as described.

' .2. In combination in a type-writer, a platen-frame, a platen and platen-shaft, a plurality of ratchet-Wheels connected to the platen and-having in=respect to each other difierent disposed teeth for producing different degrees of rotary spacing movements, 0 crating means to engage said ratchets, said p aten-shaft 'having longitudinal shifting 3o movement in the same bearings-in which, it

rotates to bring the ratchets severally into linewith the operating means and detentmeans for holding the shaft with the platen indifierent positions longitudinally, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a type -Writer, a platen-frame, a platen, a shaft carrying the platen, shif-table ongitudinally in its bearings 1n the frame and having a plurality of circumferential shoulders or grooves, a plurality of ratchets connected to the platen and ha in respectto each other differently disposeu teeth, means for operating the platenbyengaging the ratchets and means engaging the grooves or shoulders for-holding the platenin its different'longitudinalpositions, substantially as described.

'4. In combination in-a machine-of the class described, a rotary platen, means for giving the platen different line-spacing-movements and means for settin theplaten in different positions longitudina ly for the various linespacing. movements, substantially as describe In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two-Witnesses.

N ORMAN GJELI JIS.

1Witnesses J. G.- OARLsoN, JOHN Hansen. 

